Continuous machines for the instantaneous production of whipped cream

ABSTRACT

The core of the emulsifying homogenizer is axially shiftable within its tubular shell from a position in which it intercepts the flow through the emulsifying homogenizer to a position in which it clears a throughflow passage. A flow intercepting valve is provided at the end of the shell upstream of the emulsifying homogenizer whose opening is promoted by a predetermined axial shifting of the core of the homogenizer in the direction in which it clears the throughflow passage.

United States Patent [191 Carpigiani CONTlNUOUS MACHINES FOR THE INSTANTANEOUS PRODUCTION OF WHIPPED CREAM [76] Inventor: Poerio C. Carpigiani, Anzola Emilia.

Bologna, Italy 221 Filed: .lan.27, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 221,326

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 5. 1971 Italy [2478/71 [52] US. Cl 222/190, 222/496, 259/10 [51] Int. Cl BOlf 7/04 [58] Field of Search 222/146 R, 146 C, 146 HE, 222/189, 190, 547, 564,496, 400.7; 259/4, 10; 138/42, 43, 46

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,294,291 12/1966 Sichler 222/4007 1 June 11, 1974 Carpigiani 259/10 Johnston 222/400] Primary ExaminerRobert B. Reeves Assistant E.\'aminerDaVid A. Scherbel Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Edwin E. Greigg [57] ABSTRACT The core of the emulsifying homogenizer is axially shiftable within its tubular shell from a position in which it intercepts the flow through the emulsifying homogenizer to a position in which it clears a throughflow passage. A flow intercepting valve is provided at the end of the shell upstream of the emulsifying homogenizer whose opening is promoted by a predetermined axial shifting of the core of the homogenizer in the direction in which it clears the throughflow passage.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved machine for the continuous and instantaneous making of whipped cream.

There are known, for instance from the US. Patent specification No. 3,559,958 whipped cream-making machines comprising a container for liquid cream, a homogenizer, a dispensing device connected with the outlet end of the homogenizer, and means for feeding .a mixture of liquid cream and air through a labyrinth formed in the homogenizer.

The homogenizer of the machines comprises an outer shell, and a core disposed into the shell and axially shiftable within the shell from a position in which it intercepts the flow of the mix through the homogenizer unit, by cooperating with a portion of the shell, to a position in which it clears a throughflow passage.

The shifting of the homogenizer core is controlled by the pressure exerted on it by the mix of liquid cream and air forced through the homogenizer unit, against the action of a spring.

It has been however found that the axial shifting of the emulsifying homogenizer core is not always sufficient for generating a wide enough clearance between the homogenizer core and the cooperating part of the tubular shell.

Because of the air-and-cream emulsion throughpassage being so narrow, it happens that the emulsion becomes broken through the separation of its two constituent phases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, the elimination of this drawback is obtained by providing the shiftable homogenizer core with a valve member carried thereby and co-operating with a fixed valve seat, the valve seat being so formed that the valve will be opened, so as to allow the emulsion to flow through the emulsifying homogenizer, only after said homogenizer core has effected a minimum predetermined axial movement, to which corresponds the formation of a wide enough clearance between the emulsifying homogenizer core and a cooperating part of the shell surrounding and housing same.

According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the valve member controlling the minimum predetermined shifting of the homogenizer comprises a cylindrical body sliding with a tight fit within a cylindrical section of the homogenizer intake duct, an enlarged bore section being provided in said intake duct downstream of the cylindrical section in which the valve slides with a tight fit, so that the valve member will permit the flow of the emulsion only when it has been shifted into the larger bore section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in longitudinal section of a continuous whipped cream-making machine provided with an axially shiftable emulsifying homogenizer core in which the valve for regulating the minimum required opening movement of the homogenizer core according to the invention is shown in its closed position; and

FIG. 2 is a detailed view in larger scale of the homogenizer rear end, showing the control valve moved into opened position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, 1 denotes the liquid cream container or tank.

2 denotes the air and liquid cream intake pump. The delivery port of pump 2 communicates with one end of the emulsion homogenizing unit, which is indicated by 3 as a whole,

The opposite end of said homogenizing unit 3 is put into communication, in a manner known per se, with a whipped-cream dispensing cock 4.

The homogenizing unit 3 comprises, in known manner, a tubular housing or shell 5 in which an emulsifying homogenizer core 6 is mounted. The emulsifying core comprises a first emulsifying cylindrical section 601, an intermediate frusto-conical section 602, and a second emulsifying cylindrical section 603. The core sections 601 and 603 are provided with circumferential annular grooves which are put into communication with one another through a plurality of longitudinal grooves, while the conical section 602 is provided with circumferential annular grooves which are not put into communication with one another.

The homogenizer core 6 is axially slidably mounted within the tubular shell 5, whose inner section is complementary to the section of the homogenizer core housed therewithin; a spring 7 being provided housed in a blind bore of the homogenizer section 603 and constantly urging the homogenizer member in a direction which is opposite to the direction of flow of the emulsion pumped by the pump 2.

Thus, when the pump 2 is stopped, the frusto-conical section 602 of the homogenizer core is pushed by the spring 7 against the matingly shaped frusto-conical section of the shell 5, thus intercepting the tubular duct thereof, whereas whenever the pump is operated the section 602 is urged into the opposite direction, by the action of the fluid pressure being exerted upon the homogenizer by the emulsion pumped by the pump 2.

As hereinbefore stated, it might happen that the axial shifting of the homogenizer into its opened position would be insufficient due to the fact that the clearance slit being cleared between the conical core section 602 and the surrounding wall section of the shell 5 becomes too narrow, wherefore the air and whipped cream emulsion in the section 601 of the homogenizer would become at least in part broken.

According to the invention, in order to overcome such a drawback a valve 8 is mounted, onto the homogenizer core end turned towards the intake port of the pump. The valve 8 is constituted by a substantially toroidal valve head 801 provided with a stem 802.

In correspondence of the point in which the valve member 8 comes to be positioned any time the emulsifying homogenizer core is in its closed position, the tubular duct 3 has a cylindrical section 301 whose inside diameter corresponds to the outside diameter of the valve head 801. This cylindrical section 301 is extended upstream with respect to the emulsion flow direction, into a second cylindrical section 302 whose inside diameter is greater than the outside diameter of the valve head 801.

When the emulsifying homogenizer core is in its rest position, that is, whenever the pump 2 is not operated, the valve head 801 is urged by the action of the spring 7 into seating contact with the section 301, thus intercepting the flow through the tubular duct 3 whereas whenever the pump 2 is operated, the pressure acting upon the valve head 801 urges said head, against the action of spring 7, in the direction as indicated by arrow A, to thereby cause the valve head 801 to be positioned within the greater diameter duct section 302, thus opening the communication between the pump and the emulsifying homogenizer.

The shifting of the valve head 801, from its flowintercepting shell section 301 to the flowpermitting section 302, is so predetermined as to assure that any time the valve member comes to be positioned within the duct section 302, the homogenizer will have performed such an axial movement that the clearance space between the frusto-conical section 602 of the homogenizer core and the matingly shaped shell wall will be of such a width as to prevent the emulsion from becoming broken.

Means might be of course provided for adjusting the position of the valve head 801 in such a manner as to accordingly modify the axial movement of the homogenizer.

I claim:

1. A machine for the continuous and instantaneous production of whipped cream, comprising: a container for liquid cream; a homogenizer having an inlet end and an outlet end; a dispensing device connected with the outlet end of the homogenizer; and means for feeding a mixture of liquid cream and air through a labyrinth formed in the homogenizer, the homogenizer comprising: an outer shell having an inner surface; a core disposed within the shell and axially shiftable relative thereto from a position in which the core cooperates with a portion of the inner surface of said shell to intercept the mixture flow through the homogenizer to a position in which the core forms along with the inner surface of said shell a throughflow passage for the mixture flow, said throughflow passage being formed as a conical passage; and valve means at the end of the shell upstream of the homogenizer, said valve means being displaced with said core and opening only after said core and said valve means have been axially displaced a predetermined distance to effect a predetermined clearance between said core and said shell.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said valve means comprises: a substantially cylindrical valve head secured to the core; a first cylindrical valve-seat section having an inside diameter which is equal to the outside diameter of said valve head; and a second section having an inside diameter which is greater than the outside diameter of said valve head, said first and second sections being defined by a portion of the inside surface of the shell, and said valve head being shifted from said first section into said second section, in order to effect opening of the throughflow passage to the minimum predetermined width.

3. A machine according to claim 2, wherein said first cylindrical valve-seat section has a length which corresponds to the minimum predetermined width of the throughflow passage. 

1. A machine for the continuous and instantaneous production of whipped cream, comprising: a container for liquid cream; a homogenizer having an inlet end and an outlet end; a dispensing device connected with the outlet end of the homogenizer; and means for feeding a mixture of liquid cream and air through a labyrinth formed in the homogenizer, the homogenizer comprising: an outer shell having an inner surface; a core disposed within the shell and axially shiftable relative thereto from a position in which the core cooperates with a portion of the inner surface of said shell to intercept the mixture flow through the homogenizer to a position in which the core forms along with the inner surface of said shell a throughflow passage for the mixture flow, said throughflow passage being formed as a conical passage; and valve means at the end of the shell upstream of the homogenizer, said valve means being displaced with said core and opening only after said core and said valve means have been axially displaced a predetermined distance to effect a predetermined clearance between said core and said shell.
 2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said valve means comprises: a substantially cylindrical valve head secured to the core; a first cylindrical valve-seat section having an inside diameter which is equal to the outside diameter of said valve head; and a second section having an inside diameter which is greater than the outside diameter of said valve head, said first and second sections being defined by a portion of the inside surface of the shell, and said valve head being shifted from said first section into said second section, in order to effect opening of the throughflow passage to the minimum predetermined width.
 3. A machine according to claim 2, wherein said first cylindrical valve-seat section has a length which corresponds to the minimum predetermined width of the throughflow passage. 